African Sexworkers Alliance (ASWA)

Location

ASWA is a sex work movement/network formed in 2009 by empowered sex worker leaders, women’s activists and NGO’s who support the rights of sex workers and publically denounce the stigma, discrimination and criminalisation of sex work.

How are sex workers involved in your organisation?:

ASWA supports the rights of sex workers who came together in South Africa – JHB to form the African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA) and this was the first ever sex worker led African conference. ASWA is committed to sex workers health rights.

Which of NSWP priority areas does your organisation work on?:

Oppose the criminalisation and other legal oppression of sex work and support its recognition as work

Critique the trafficking paradigm that conflates representations of sex work, migration, and mobility

Challenge stigma and discrimination against sex workers, their families and partners, and others involved in sex work

Advocate for the economic empowerment and social inclusion of sex workers as sex workers

What are the two main challenges that the sex workers you work with face:

ASWA is a growing alliance of sex workers and sex worker partners seeking to contribute to social and economic justice for sex workers in Africa. Its vision is an empowered sex work industry where sex workers have equal access to human rights, social justice and health care in a dignified manner.

Describe other areas of your work:

Creating an enabling environment of partnerships that enables sex workers to address the complexities, dynamics and diversities within the sex work industry.
Supporting sex workers self organisation and movement strengthening.
Advocacy and representation of voices of African sex workers
Removal of structural and legal barriers to allow access to human and health rights.